diff --git a/arch/x86/mm/mem_encrypt_identity.c b/arch/x86/mm/mem_encrypt_identity.c
index d73aeb16417f..7f72472a34d6 100644
--- a/arch/x86/mm/mem_encrypt_identity.c
+++ b/arch/x86/mm/mem_encrypt_identity.c
@@ -507,7 +507,6 @@ void __init sme_enable(struct boot_params *bp)
 	const char *cmdline_ptr, *cmdline_arg, *cmdline_on, *cmdline_off;
 	unsigned int eax, ebx, ecx, edx;
 	unsigned long feature_mask;
-	bool active_by_default;
 	unsigned long me_mask;
 	char buffer[16];
 	bool snp;
@@ -593,22 +592,19 @@ void __init sme_enable(struct boot_params *bp)
 	     : "p" (sme_cmdline_off));
 
 	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_AMD_MEM_ENCRYPT_ACTIVE_BY_DEFAULT))
-		active_by_default = true;
-	else
-		active_by_default = false;
+		sme_me_mask = me_mask;
 
 	cmdline_ptr = (const char *)((u64)bp->hdr.cmd_line_ptr |
 				     ((u64)bp->ext_cmd_line_ptr << 32));
 
 	if (cmdline_find_option(cmdline_ptr, cmdline_arg, buffer, sizeof(buffer)) < 0)
-		return;
+		goto out;
 
 	if (!strncmp(buffer, cmdline_on, sizeof(buffer)))
 		sme_me_mask = me_mask;
 	else if (!strncmp(buffer, cmdline_off, sizeof(buffer)))
 		sme_me_mask = 0;
-	else
-		sme_me_mask = active_by_default ? me_mask : 0;
+
 out:
 	if (sme_me_mask) {
 		physical_mask &= ~sme_me_mask;